Tag: 2017 nba draft

MIAMI — John Collins has visited AmericanAirlines Arena many times as a fan. But he visited the arena Sunday for the first time as an NBA player.

The former Cardinal Newman basketball standout and current Hawks power forward kicked off the preseason with a game against the Heat on Sunday in Miami. Collins was impressive with nine points, 15 rebounds in 20 minutes of action.

It was a totally different experience than when he attended games at AmericanAirlines Arena to root on the Heat.

Bam Adebayo didn’t begin playing organized basketball until he was 13 and he spent just one season at Kentucky before making the jump to the NBA. And at 19 years old, he became an NBA player when the Heat selected him with the 14th overall pick in Thursday’s draft.

Edrice “Bam” Adebayo reacts with coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats after being drafted 14th overall by the Miami Heat during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

So-called NBA experts are always offering up their grades of teams after the draft.

Miami Heat NBA basketball team president Pat Riley talks to the media during a season ending press conference in Miami, Wednesday, April 19, 2017. (David Santiago/El Nuevo Herald via AP)

MIAMI — The Heat haven’t necessarily been able to build through the draft over the past few years.

In fact, Miami’s roster last season featured five undrafted players (Tyler Johnson, Udonis Haslem, Willie Reed, Rodney McGruder and Okaro White) and just one Heat first-round pick (Justise Winslow). Trading away draft picks to acquire LeBron James in 2010 and Goran Dragic in 2015 has left the Heat looking through the undrafted pile and in the D-League for intriguing prospects.

Louisville’s Donovan Mitchell goes to the basket in a game last season against Notre Dame. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

With every trade and rumor there is a trickle-down affect to the draft. So just two days after posting my first mock draft, already some adjusting has to be made, and it does impact the Heat.

Pat Riley and the Heat will have some solid options, and they likely will decide between drafting a big or a wing Thursday night. I had Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen falling to No. 14 in my first mock but Phil Jackson appears intrigued by the outside shooting big man and now it’s pretty clear Markkanen will not fall to the Heat. With Markkanen and the best big men likely off the board I’m going with an athletic two guard who some say has a skill set similar to Dwyane Wade .

Luke Kennard #5 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after a play during their game against the Florida State Seminoles at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 28, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

MIAMI — The 2017 NBA Draft is just hours away. The two-round draft will begin Thursday at 7 p.m. from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts against the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

MIAMI — It makes sense for the Heat to draft a forward with the 14th overall pick. With Chris Bosh out of the picture and power forwards James Johnson and Luke Babbitt set to be free agents this summer, Miami needs to add depth to this position either through the draft, free agency or trade.

Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers reacts to a late foul call while playing the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 17, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won the game 117-111 to take a 2-0 series lead. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

It looks like the Pacers are now open to trading Paul George.

Does it make sense for the Heat to pursue the 27-year-old forward? In this week’s installment of the Heat mailbag, we took a closer look at George’s situation and why it would be risky to trade for him.

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About the Author

Anthony Chiang began his writing career in Gainesville at the University of Florida’s student-run newspaper. At The Independent Florida Alligator, he covered the school’s golf, volleyball, baseball, and football teams. The Miami native has also written for the Sun Sentinel and MLB.com, following the Tampa Bay Rays.

Tom is a Heat beat writer for the Palm Beach Post. He has covered sports in Florida since 1981.